Rants on Cycling and on Life:
Photos of people and bicycles that pass in front of my camera

8.15.2007

tips... the custom of tips and tipping

tips... tipping... the custom of tipping

where is the rule book?how do we learn these things if they are not spelled out for us?

how can we accelerate the learning curve?where is the cheatsheet?

over time we all learn that it is appropriate to tip 15-20 percent on a meal in a sit down restauranta sit down restaurant where there are no pictures of the menu on the wall

there are subtities that often go ignored...like tipping on the total before taxor tipping on the meal and not on the drinksthe tendency is to be generous

the same goes for barswe have learned over time that we need to tip the bartenderespecially if you want a second drink

honestly...I understand the ritual and the unwritten rulesbut I do not fully agree with themI accept these rules and live by themyet somewhat begrudgelyas we tip waiters and waitresses no matter how shotty the serviceand the notion of tipping the bartender because the pulled a draft or popped the cap off a bottle is a tad absurdbut those are the rules to the gameso that is how I play them

well... what about the people serving beer, peanuts, or hot dogs at the baseball gamedo we need to tip them on each exchange?some of the servers give a little show... a little something extrathe guy who dances when he shakes the lemonadethe lady who writes Orioles on the hot dog in mustard or ketchup in cursivebut what about the person who just walks up and hands you the food or drink that you desire?is tipping part of the transaction?

does someone know the rules?where are these rules written?

just because somebody got wise and put out a cup that says tips... does that mean that I need to tip when I order my coffee?it appears that the person pouring my coffee is doing no more than the person who hands me my wendy's classic single... when why do people think that I need to tip that person at the register?

mechanics at the bicycle shop?often they turn the wrench or make an extra adjustmentdo they get tipped?

I worked as a moveras the leader of the crew I often took the time to enlighten the customer of the sociology of the situation as we discussed the billingodd...people often tip the flower delivery person for one deliverybut did not tip the mover after hours and hours of sweating their balls off as they hauled all sorts of crap up three flights of stairs

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